Chapter 49

[Translator - Hestia][Proofreader - Kaya]

Chapter 49

The Gate Management Department had four bureaus under its command.

The Gate Management Bureau, which directly fought against Gates, was practically the national army of the Aitel era.

The Awakened Research Bureau, which researched various artifacts and invested in related industries.

The International Awakened Bureau, which handled international cooperation related to Aitel.

And the Awakened Support Agency, which supported and managed civilian Awakened.

The public perception of the four bureaus was quite different.

The Awakened Research Bureau and the International Awakened Bureau were viewed similarly to ordinary government ministries.

Occasionally, issues like embezzlement or parachute appointments would arise, but they were still generally seen as just regular government offices.

The Gate Management Bureau was universally respected.

They fought against Gates like Rankers, while receiving civil servant-level salaries.

They were heroes dedicated solely to national defense and glory, so it was only natural for people to respect them.

And the Awakened Support Agency was always at the heart of controversy.

News articles written by a reporter at one-hour intervals exemplified how the world saw them.

[Rankers' 'Sidekicks'? The Cleanup Crew for Crimes!]

[Exclusive: Support Agency Hunter Assassinates a Ranker!? Shocking!]

They were the ones who provided all sorts of legal services, siding with arrogant Ranker punks who got drunk and high in clubs and then hit people.

They were also the ones who quietly assassinated Awakened who, regardless of their personality, were deemed a potential threat to national security.

When the unprecedented incident of Baekya's death occurred, the Support Agency was the first place the Rankers contacted, and also the first place they suspected.

It couldn't be helped.

Although they were under the umbrella of the Support Agency, internally, the Support Division and the Management Division were completely separate.

The reason they didn't create a separate Management Bureau was that the expression 'managing' the citizens would obviously be attacked by the opposition party during election season.

Within the bureau, countless lineages and factions were divided into large and small teams.

Even Lee Baejeong, the head of the Management Division, only had a flimsy grasp on a few teams.

In front of the completely controlled intersection.

"Director! It's dangerous! Please step back!"

"Director of the Management Division, what are you doing here? This is under the jurisdiction of our Support Division."

"I received the summons as a Ranker. I'm here not as the Director of the Management Division, but as an Awakened of South Korea."

"I don't believe a word you say with those shifty eyes!"

Lee Baejeong argued with the Support Division Hunters in front of the Gate.

He believed that for the country to be able to confront rifts and climb the Tower even without Baekya, the government needed to be able to control the guilds.

And for that, the power of the Management Division was crucial.

To strengthen the Management Division, he first had to take control.

To control the team leaders who were suspicious of the director suddenly parachuting in like a special forces unit, he needed achievements.

The achievements of the Management Division's director came from making an example of Rankers who caused trouble, showing that the law was applied equally.

He intended to bring all the Rankers who didn't respond to the summons this time to court.

To do that, he had to show his own prowess.

If he didn't perform well this time, the Rankers who had scoffed at the summons would turn the tables on him.

'So, what were you doing at that time, Director?'

'You were probably hiding at home, planning how to catch us, weren't you?'

The argument that the Management Division's director's job wasn't Gate suppression wouldn't work.

The Awakened society was a world where the strong ruled and the weak were preyed upon.

Once you were looked down upon, you lost all your power.

Moreover, this Gate incident had a personal significance for Lee Baejeong.

This was the first Rank 1 Gate raid without Baekya.

It would be good if they suppressed it safely, but it wouldn't be bad if they didn't.

It would serve as a wake-up call for everyone who had been living with a false sense of security under his light.

'We must embrace the night.'

Lee Baejeong pushed past the Support Division Hunters and entered the Gate.

A crimson sky and black earth met his eyes, and the smoky wind ruffled his flamboyant hair.

Na Jeongwon's World Tree loomed over the Hunters' heads, and Lee Eunwoo's sniper rifle fired at the giant demons.

And in the distance—

In front of the red mountain at the edge of the horizon.

A group was charging in a counterattack.

The demon army, wielding flaming longswords, looked like a wildfire.

The charging army, their entire bodies ablaze, seemed to be setting a counter-fire.

Hunters stationed on the walls cheered in unison.

"Cheong Siyeol! Ryu Haneul! Hong Ilha!"

"Ilha! Ilha! Ilha!"

Lee Baejeong recognized the names.

His face contorted.

"The Management Director?"

"Lee Eunwoo..."

At that moment, 'Mr. Pistol' Lee Eunwoo approached him from behind.

"Don't even think about it. We wouldn't have lasted this long without him."

Click.

The sound of the hammer being cocked was chilling.

Lee Baejeong didn't even scoff.

"It would have been better if we hadn't lasted."

* * *

Thump!

The ground shook.

Thump!

The mountain was moving.

"That wasn't an actual mountain."

Baekya let out a hollow laugh as he looked up at the turtle dragon that looked like a mountain.

【Volcanic Turtle Dragon (S-)】

The turtle dragon carried a shell made of several volcanic peaks.

New demons rose from the flowing lava, wielding flaming longswords and marching forward.

Seeing this sight, he realized that his judgment was correct.

'As expected, there was no way to solve this with conventional methods. We have to take it down here. If that thing gets out, Seoul is finished. Even if it doesn't become a complete wasteland, it will no longer function as a capital.'

Hesitation.

Ryu Haneul unconsciously took a step back.

And immediately after, he realized he had retreated in front of his Senior and his face hardened.

'How embarrassing.'

Just looking at the rank, it was lower than Ryu Haneul himself.

However, Haneul had not yet fully recovered his pre-regression strength.

Moreover, S or A ranks were more about quality than quantity.

With a size like that, regardless of rank, a quality born from sheer quantity was bound to exist.

Cheong Siyeol let out a sigh that sounded like a laugh.

He gripped his blue longsword anew and spoke calmly.

"Let's go. It's even clearer now. We just need to kill that."

His tone was similar to saying he was going to have steak for dinner.

Baekya suppressed a satisfied smile.

'That's the spirit.'

Cheong Siyeol was still the same as he remembered.

If he, Baekya, could cripple the enemy with Law of Light…

'Go.'

'Yes, my idol, my hero, my sun.'

That same composure from back then, when he would charge into the enemy lines alone and behead the monster leader, still lingered in his sword.

'Before you fall, by my own hand.'

He must have meant those words sincerely.

At that moment, Baekya didn't know whether to be sad that his disciple would betray him or proud that he had raised such a consistent disciple.

So he decided to do both.

"Yes, let's go."

Powerful demons were swarming around the Mountain of Fire.

【Bloodlust Demon (A)】

【Myriad Horrors (A+)】

【Extreme Flame Armored Demon (A)】

There were many demons with higher ranks than Baekya just by looking at their levels.

But Baekya didn't hesitate for even a second and kicked off the ground.

Tap!

That's how he had lived, and that's how he had taught.

He swung his scepter, ordering all the possessed around him to charge forward.

["-----!"]

["---, ---!"]

Counter-fire and fire clashed, and thought waves burst forth fiercely.

He put the scepter back into his inventory and shot a Flame Arrow into the air.

Whoosh!

The moment the arrow became as small as a distant dot, he used 'Descent from the Crimson Flames'.

Boom!

His body flickered and reappeared in mid-air.

A dizzying descent began.

The hot wind brushed away the beads of sweat on his forehead.

He burst into laughter, befitting the once-strongest.

["Ha, hahahaha!"]

【'Smile that Transcends the Stars' is activated.】

【Numerous demons are afflicted with the status condition: 'Suppression'.】

【*Some demons are immune to the status condition due to the difference in Rank.】

With his hands clasped together above and below, he fired a beam.

Bzzt!

'Now that I've reached A-Rank, it should be somewhat usable, right?'

【Diffuse Reflection: Incineration Ray】

The Incineration Ray bounced around inside the sphere like a laser pointer, creating a chaotic dance of light above and below his palm.

Countless lines overlapped, forming a near-spherical shape.

"Ha!"

He threw the sphere into the middle of the demon army.

Crackle. Crackle. Crackle—!

Reddish-white beams raged in succession.

The beams sliced through the demons' necks, their weapons, and then again.

Since there were so many high-ranking demons, tens of thousands of them weren't instantly torn to shreds.

But it was enough to scatter the densely packed demons.

His Constellation exclaimed.

【"Fantastic!"】

【"It's a shame I can't see this in person beside you."】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' focuses their vision.】

Ryu Haneul glanced up to confirm Baekya's safe descent from the sky.

'No problem.'

Only after seeing Baekya's stable posture did he throw himself into the enemy lines.

He wasn't too late.

'I won't miss it!'

It was a combo they had practiced tens of thousands of times in the lost time.

Ryu Haneul knew exactly when and what he had to do.

【Heavenly Demon Divine Art】

The purple halo above his head shone brilliantly.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Qi waves erupted, his black dragon robe billowed from within, and his beautiful jet-black hair surged around him.

【Heavenly Demon's Reign】

Crash!

Ryu Haneul leaped high and plunged into the midst of the demons.

A violet wave spread out as if to overturn the entire universe.

Rumble. Rumble. Rumble...!

It was as powerful as a meteorite impact.

In the face of the most exalted evil in the sky, the evils of the Flame Realm bowed their heads.

【Status Conditions: Suppression, Confusion, Loss of Morale, Ego Collapse...】

Status conditions spread like wildfire.

And through the path created,

"Azure Sky Swords!"

Cheong Siyeol charged forward like a blue comet.

His halo, his eyes, his mana, his sword.

An Awakened filled entirely with blue loyalty tried to exert that loyalty once more.

The Turtle Dragon glared at Cheong Siyeol.

The monstrous beast opened its house-sized eyes.

Demonic mana shot out from its yellow eyes.

Whoosh!

【'Status Condition: Suppression' failed to apply.】

【'Status Condition: Fear' failed to apply.】

Thanks to the difference in Rank, the status conditions didn't work, but...

Hum.

For a brief moment, Cheong Siyeol's body stiffened.

Hum. Hum. Hum.

The Turtle Dragon prepared its breath during that time.

The wrinkles on its neck stretched taut.

The volcano on its back bubbled and boiled.

Hum! Hum! Hum! Hum! Hum!

The beak-like snout opened like a giant tunnel.

Heat like a mythical forge emanated from its maw.

【Breath】

Rumble rumble rumble!

A tremendous pillar of fire, spanning hundreds of meters, erupted, aiming to blow Cheong Siyeol away.

It was a strike capable of ending the legend of the Sword Saint.

"Cheong Siyeol!"

At that moment, Baekya, who was just about to touch the ground, used 'Flame Arrow & Descent from the Crimson Flame' once more.

Fwoosh!

He teleported in front of Cheong Siyeol.

He swung the Fire Dragon Sword, which he had strapped to his waist instead of putting it in his inventory, with his right hand.

【Fire Blossom Transformation Wall】

【Flames flutter and become a wall】

With his left hand, he unleashed a Resonance Wave, trying to offset the breath attack.

Clang!

At that moment, time seemed to slow down.

The dissatisfied voice of his Constellation echoed in his mind.

【"You know I haven't been sponsoring you for this kind of development."】

'Cheong Siyeol's sword is the best suited to cut down that turtle dragon.'

【"You're risking your life for your enemy, after all this time being alive? Why?"】

'I'm practically immune to flame-type attacks thanks to my many flame-related traits and titles.'

【"You can lie to me, but you can't lie to yourself."】

Baekya showed his sincerity in response to his Constellation's question.

'I'm not lying. I believe in him.'

【"...."】

'I am the Sun of Humanity, the Embodiment of Fire. I radiate light in all directions and cast shadows everywhere.'

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' makes a face as if they've been struck.】

'I know that wherever I look, light and shadow will inevitably be created. So I always had to choose, and this time, I chose to resolve the situation by killing the monsters. Didn't you like that about me?'

He didn't need to say the last part.

【"I sure have a remarkable contractor."】

【Your Constellation 'Sunny' grins.】

The slowed-down time returned to normal.

Crimson flames poured towards Baekya.

* * *

A notification window I couldn't make sense of blinked above my eyelids.

【Achievement: 'Perfect Sacrifice' achieved!】

【You protected your comrade at the perfect timing with the most efficient choice... points are being... calculated... Ascension conditions...】

"Senior! Open your eyes! Senior!"

Ryu Haneul's voice sounded double, triple layered. Searᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"I'm not dying. Stop shaking me."

I got up with his help.

The surrounding scenery was very satisfying.

The demons, big and small, were completely demoralized and fleeing, and the mountain-like Turtle Dragon was dying, having lost its head.

And I was rolling on the ground, kilometers away from the Turtle Dragon.

It seemed I had been hit by the breath attack and flown all the way here.

As expected, my hair and skin weren't burned at all.

Well, it would be ridiculous if the 'Embodiment of Fire' got burned by fire.

But the Mantle of the Demon Marquis wasn't unscathed.

The arms and legs could be repaired somehow, but the chest plate covering the torso was completely shattered, exposing my chest and abdomen.

The flames didn't hurt me, but it seemed the mana of the breath attack itself had pushed through.

"Oh, please..."

I'm not someone who cries easily, but tears were welling up.

A Heroic-grade artifact, and even worse, armor, was half-destroyed.

When would I ever get armor like this again?

Moreover, the Fire Dragon Sword seemed to have been broken or lost during the flight; it was nowhere to be seen.

Because of that damn disciple, I lost two of my main artifacts.

Whatever.

Forget it.

It's already done.

My body is fine, and I haven't been exposed yet, so it's all good.

I raised my head and reported to my constellation in my mind.

I'm alive.

I'm always grateful.

【"That was a close call. It's been a while since I've been on the edge of my seat."】

【"If your power had recovered a bit more, I could have raised your Ascension Level. It would have been a huge loss for both of us if you had died here."】

Is that so?

I suddenly regret it.

【"It was fun. But cherish your life. You have to live a long life and show me what I want to see."】

Yes.

I replied and focused back on reality.

"Haneul, did any notification pop up?"

"No. We definitely defeated the Turtle Dragon, but the Finale Story itself hasn't progressed yet."

"Really? Let's go check it out properly. It might revive if we're not careful."

"That's possible."

Hum!

At that moment, the halo above my head vibrated once.

Huh?

Did you have something else to say?

The moment I thought that.

【"Be careful."】

Bam!

Ryu Haneul was hit by something and flew backward.

[Translator - Hestia

[Proofreader - Kaya]